There is no better time to start a home garden. Covid, high food prices, more time at home, all are great reasons to start this fun enriching activity.
In this article, I will cover the basics and some helpful tips. Urban patio gardening or suburban backyard, you can do this!
Contents
Felt Pots
We started our backyard garden with felt pots and I highly recommend these. They are ideal for vegetables with smaller root systems. You can place them anywhere that has the recommended 7 hours of sunlight. Some types are called “grow bags”.
These bags are helpful in the heat because they are breathable and can regulate heat.
They also have superior drainage and aeration. You can reuse them year after year, and they fold up and take up minimal space between growing seasons.
This was the easiest option for us, as building or buying a raised planter seemed expensive and difficult. We also did not want to tear up a section of the yard for planting.
Troughs
Troughs are another easy and visually attractive option. They sell big ones at Home Depot and D and B, and many other locations. You can put them right on top of gravel rocks, or on a neglected unattractive area in your yard.
They are easy to use, they last a long time, they can be easier to access for those with mobility access. They can also keep burrowing animals out and if high enough, rabbits.
Be sure to drill holes in the bottom for drainage, and google how to properly fill with soil and gravel.
What Should I Plant?
You should decide what you want to plant and when it’s recommended in your region to plant it. Some you plant later in the summer/fall. You can also plant some flowers or herbs that naturally deter bugs.
Get Started!
We started with organic fertilizer which we purchased at Costco for a great price. It is recommended to use a mixture of soil (compost, mulch), or to buy an all-in-one that has fertilizer.
We went to our local organic nursery and since we were a little late in the season, did not have a great selection to choose from. We bought 4 peppers, one zucchini, kale, and a miniature pumpkin (for fun!).
We had already bought organic basil and thyme at Trader Joe’s earlier in the season. We did get cilantro seeds and fennel, but they did not succeed.
We put them straight in, I recommend doing a seed starter inside for better results.
I also had a sprouted potato in my pantry, so I looked it up, and it said you could plant it! I planted it and I am amazed at how big it is.
Choose what will be the most exciting for you and your family but something you like to eat. This will keep it fun and interesting.
Let the Growing Begin!
Choose a spot that has at least 7 hours of full sun. Fill up the felt planters about 6 inches short of the top. We felt this was plenty of depth. We spaced
everything out a few inches apart. We chose a full sun area on our gravel rocks section of the yard. Watering everything once planted is recommended.
Water gently at the beginning as they are delicate. Make sure you get the water at the root. Now let the growing begin!
Harvest!
The vegetables should grow pretty quickly, except the seeds. It is very fun to watch the progress day by day. We watered every day without fail. We harvested Kale first, and it was very tasty.
Zucchini next, and it was a delicious variety. A heatwave came early here and our little garden has suffered. Over 100 degrees for weeks. But it is still surviving.
If you google vegetable garden planning you will see many websites that you can plan your garden with.
You enter your garden plan and desired vegetable and it will tell you the correct spacing. Also some great instructions on this site. I highly recommend it.
A Beautiful Backyard!
Another idea to enhance your outside living space would be a pergola. One of the homes we purchased had a wood pergola over the back concrete patio. It offered little shade, and it needed so much maintenance. Drove my husband crazy! Now I see that
Sunset Pergola Kits offers maintenance-free pergolas, and you can customize your shade and size! They offer a lifetime warranty as well. We had sworn never to have another pergola, but now I am in the market!
You should check out their website for beautiful pergolas and other beautiful backyard project ideas.
Spending so much time at home, and with the need for socializing in outdoor spaces, creating your own private oasis is now more important than ever!
I hope you found this information helpful! Happy Gardening! If you have any tips and tricks you would like to add in the comments, we would love to hear them!
